There were a few things I promised myself I would never do when I started blogging for Rumors and Rants in earnest. Those were:

1.) I will never write an Erin Andrews post.

2.) I will not give any clues as to who I actually am.

3.) I will never write an Erin Andrews post.

Well, all that stuff is about to go out the window. And where to begin?

As many of our loyal readers know (the few, the proud), all but one of us are fledgling sports journalists who are – in some form – employed by mainstream media outlets. I count myself among them. Let me tell you, it’s pretty um, interesting, to work in a business that is – for all intents and purposes – dying, but that’s a story for another time.

As part of my endeavors, I freelance for a newspaper that credentials me to Notre Dame basketball home games (first clue as to my real identity). This is the second season I’ve done it, and Saturday night was the first loss I’d covered at the Joyce Center.

It was also the first time I’d been within arm’s length of Erin Andrews.

When I walked up to press row I noticed right away: She and her ESPN cohorts would be sitting in my seat right on the court. So, I check the seating chart. Instead of the first row I’m in the second. All thanks to ESPN’s massive entourage. Hope you enjoyed my spot, Erin.

Anyway, when I look up from the seating chart my disappointment in the seating change quickly gives way to what was surely a stupid look on my face. EA was walking right toward me.

I’ll be honest: In the name of professionalism (go ahead, make fun) I didn’t get my cell phone out and take a picture or touch her, much to the chagrin of my fellow blogmates (I cringe to think what you guys would’ve done in my situation, and then I laugh).

Instead I did what any guy would do in my situation: I walked right past her without uttering so much as a faint “hi,” located my seat and started setting up shop. Again, no cell phone photo, no awkward introductions, nothing.

I know what you’re thinking: Weak dude, weak. You’re probably saying, “What a jackass, I would have at least introduced myself and gotten a cell phone pic to show to my boys.” That’s fine. I just wasn’t going to be that guy.

But I will say this: If you think she looks great on television, she looks even better when you’re standing within a couple feet of her and her green North Face winter coat.

So, the game comes and goes and judging by the interactions of which I took no part the ESPN crew seemed to enjoy their time in South Bend. Perhaps EA will be gracing the campus with her presence again.

I mean, there’s always a chance for me to do nothing again. At least tonight against Marquette I’ll have my seat back.

I expect nothing less than timidity couched in “professionalism” from a sports writer. ND was the game, EA getting your seat was the STORY. And your introduction. I’d say better luck next time, but this would happen every time, right?

I didn’t know we were exchanging Erin Andrews stories. Here’s mine: It was after an Indiana men’s basketball game. They had just beaten Iowa at home. I was standing outside the Iowa locker room waiting for a local player so I could ask him about playing in Assembly Hall. Well, as I’m waiting in the hallway, guess who appears: Ms. Andrews. And better yet, she waves at me. I wave back, trying to act all cool. Baller! So she’s starting to walk toward me and then she begins talking….to the guy standing behind me: Sam Alford, Steve Alford’s dad. Ooops.

My turn. I was seated in row one of press row at the Big Ten tournament a couple of years ago.. right next to Indiana AD Rick Greenspan.
EA need to interview him, so she politely asked me for my seat. Sure, why not. So I move over one seat, EA leans over to talk to Rick and inadvertently exposes about 1.5 inches of kelley green Victoria’s Secret magic.
C’mon-you’d look too. No, I didn’t employ my camera phone either.